Summer of the Monkeys [Hardcover]

Wilson Rawls (Author)

Book Description

The last thing a fourteen-year-old boy expects to find along an old Ozark river bottom is a tree full of monkeys. Jay Berry Lee's grandpa had an explanation, of course--as he did for most things. The monkeys had escaped from a traveling circus, and there was a handsome reward in store for anyone who could catch them. Grandpa said there wasn't any animal that couldn't be caught somehow, and Jay Berry started out believing him . . .

But by the end of the "summer of the monkeys," Jay Berry Lee had learned a lot more than he ever bargained for--and not just about monkeys. He learned about faith, and wishes coming true, and knowing what it is you really want. He even learned a little about growing up . . .

This novel, set in rural Oklahoma around the turn of the century, is a heart-warming family story--full of rich detail and delightful characters--about a time and place when miracles were really the simplest of things...

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Jay Berry Lee is happy until the summer he is 14 years old and discovers monkeys living in the creek bottoms near his parents' homestead. Set in the late 1800s, Summer of the Monkeys traces the boy's adventures as he attempts to capture 29 monkeys that have (it turns out) escaped from the circus. With somewhat dubious help from his grandfather, and over the objections of his mother, Jay goes about discovering that monkeys are much smarter and harder to catch than he thought possible. Woven into this story is a second theme about his physically disabled sister and the family's attempts to find money for an operation. As funny and touching as Wilson Rawls's Where the Red Fern Grows, this book will appeal to the young reader who has always wished for the freedom to run wild through the woods with nothing more pressing to do than find another rabbit hole--or escaped monkey. (Ages 12 and older) --Richard Farr

From the Publisher

The last thing a fourteen-year-old boy expects to find along an old Ozark river bottom is a tree full of monkeys. Jay Berry Lee's grandpa had an explanation, of course--as he did for most things. The monkeys had escaped from a traveling circus, and there was a handsome reward in store for anyone who could catch them. Grandpa said there wasn't any animal that couldn't be caught somehow, and Jay Berry started out believing him . . .

But by the end of the "summer of the monkeys," Jay Berry Lee had learned a lot more than he ever bargained for--and not just about monkeys. He learned about faith, and wishes coming true, and knowing what it is you really want. He even learned a little about growing up . . .

This novel, set in rural Oklahoma around the turn of the century, is a heart-warming family story--full of rich detail and delightful characters--about a time and place when miracles were really the simplest of things . . .

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers; First Edition edition (May 15, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385114508
• ISBN-13: 978-0385114509
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (125 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #945,301 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the book thats right for you, May 9, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Summer of the Monkeys (Paperback)

It's the late 1800's and fourteen year old JayBerry Lee is stirring up aload of trouble when he finds out that thirty monkeys have escaped from the circus in the bottom of the Oklahoma Ozarks.The circus is giving two dollars for every monkey he catches and one-hundred dollars for the big monkey,Jimbo.JayBerry figures out that there is no monkey business when it comes to catching monkeys.
I'm not going to lie it took forever to read this book on the account of it was boring at the beginning.And then when I finally got passed the beginning I couldn't put it down.Willson Rawls tells the story very slow but it has a great message.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read aloud for kids, September 16, 2005

By 

Vani - See all my reviews

This review is from: Summer of the Monkeys (Paperback)

Jay Berry is your typical country boy. With his faithful, bluetick hound dog Rowday, Jay Berry delights in roaming the creek bottoms near his home in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. His happy, carefree life takes a sudden turn when he and Rowdy meet up with a troop of escaped circus monkeys out in the woods.

Eager to get the reward for catching the monkeys, Jay Berry enlists the aid of his "old, slow-movin', boy lovin'" grandpa. Together they hatch up some unique plots for capturing the devilish little beasts. But they find out that the monkeys are smarther than they thought -- maybe even smarter than they are.

You'll find yourself laughing out loud at the antics of Jay Berry and his animal friends. But you may also find yourself shedding a tear or two as Jay Berry learns a lesson that shatters a lifetime dream.

In my opinion, Wilson Rawls has written the perfect young adult novel. The mixture of humor, love, family relationships, adventure and magic make for engrossing reading. There is literally never a dull moment in theis wonderful book.

24 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great book, but the movie takes away some things, November 21, 2001

By 

Rebecca Sanborn "Becca" (Murfreesboro, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Summer of the Monkeys (Paperback)

I first read this book in 5th grade and I loved it. However, a few years ago a movie came out, which saddened me, it left out and changed a lot of the parts that made me love the book. So yes, the book is great. It has adventure, love, sadness, strength, courage, and a remarkable tale of a boy's journey to learn the value of family. But you won't get everything out of the movie. So I encourage you to read the book, you won't be disappointed.